The police chowkies in the report have been defunct for some years. One sees cows tethered to it. Another has become a storage and dumping ground for construction material. One in Bhandup lies unused because nobody wants to man it. The overpowering stench from a public toilet next to this chowkie means policemen refuse to enter it, and shun postings. A chowkie functioned for a while as a gym and then was assimilated into a chawl, and, in perhaps the biggest irony, one empty chowkie has become a haven for anti-social elements.

Why did the authorities allow these chowkies to remain empty and defunct? Firstly, they should have been constructed after proper thought. Then, they should not have been allowed to remain empty and become defunct. This is a waste of taxpayers’ money and a myopic approach to infrastructure. When one builds a public facility, it must have some reason and logic behind it. This is a ludicrous waste of time, money and effort. It is actually not only defunct, but also counterproductive. Crime fighting bastions have been breached by anti-socials themselves.